Truce

Wrote Democratic Chairman Ed Flynn: “In the face of war politics are adjourned….I suggest that [the Democratic and Republican committee organizations]…be made available immediately to the President and the departments engaged in defense preparations.”

Replied Republican Chairman Joe Martin: “The Republican organization…will gladly answer any call to national service….Republicans will not permit politics to enter into national defense.”

Wrote President Roosevelt: “Let me thank you both personally and on behalf of our country….”

In this exchange of letters—following the memorable scene when Republicans and Democrats walked arm in arm into Congress to declare war on Japan—the two U.S. political parties formed a united front on winning the war.

But they did not fall all the way into each other’s arms. The Republicans would still try to win the 1942 Congressional elections, would fight hard on any domestic issues they could find. Some prospective issues:1) non-defense spending, 2) tax and monetary policy, 3) Administration efficiency in conduct of the war.